Satisfy the female Civil War spies of Karen Abbott’s new book

On September 17, author Karen Abbott reads from her latest, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, the little-known story of four female Civil War spies. A quick primer:

Rose O’Neal GreenhowAllegiance ConfederacyTradecraft This widow used her suitors to run a Confederate spy ring outside of her D.C. home. Her intel was responsible for the Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run, kicking off the war.

Emma EdmondsonAllegiance UnionTradecraft One of 400 women who disguised themselves as men to fight, the Canadian farm girl assumed a new identity—Frank Thompson—when she crossed the border. She once shot off a Confederate captain’s nose.

Belle BoydAllegiance ConfederacyTradecraft At 17, the “fastest girl in Virginia” shot a Union solider dead in her home after he threatened her mother, then turned to espionage, seducing her way into intelligence information.

Elizabeth Van LewAllegiance UnionTradecraft An abolitionist spinster from Richmond, Van Lew hid Northern POWs in her attic and sent her maid to work for (and report back on) Jefferson Davis, all while flying the Stars and Bars in her foyer.

On the calendar: The writer discusses her historical account of Civil War espionage at the Margaret Mitchell House on September 17.